The Rejected King (Desolation, #1)

by Kortney Keisel

“It’s the number one thing I am looking for in a Promenade Director. Someone skilled in chair weaponry.” She raised her chin even higher. “You’re in luck, then. I’m one of the best.”

It was the sexiest thing she had ever heard a man say. The only thing that could have made his speech and her fantasy better was if he was shirtless, holding a dessert or a book (she wasn’t too particular), with a slight breeze floating through his fluffy brown hair.

Emree had no control when it came to books. If they were good, she would stay up all night and finish them.

Emree took one look at the king, and her heart literally stopped. She imagined her death certificate, the lines detailing her demise reading that she had been killed by handsomeness.

at the rate they were going, they could both make a living as thieves with all the glances they were stealing.

“I really want to be with a woman who sees more than the throne. A woman who doesn’t care if I’m king or if I’m voted out. I want a woman who challenges me. Who loves to read and learn new things. I want someone who doesn’t let society dictate how far they can go in life because of what social class they were born into. Someone with goals and aspirations but that is also rooted in strong family values.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, suddenly looking more boyish than kingly. “Someone who catches my breath every time she walks in the room and makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever been. In addition to all of that, she has to be available and feel the same way about me.” Emree’s heart was in her throat. She had a nagging feeling that Davin’s description of what he wanted sounded a lot like her.

Emree was beautiful, but she was more than that. She was goal-oriented with ideas and ambitions. She was intelligent and well-read. She was polished and confident, but at the same time, she had an adorable dose of naivety that he loved. Hard work didn’t scare her. She was willing to do whatever it took to accomplish her dreams, which made her even more attractive to Davin. He didn’t dare take his eyes off of her because he didn’t want to miss one wide-eyed expression, one mischievous smile, or one brilliant book review. She was easy to talk to, and for some reason, he could open up to her about his failures and fears as king. And then there was the fact that Emree believed in him. To her, he was a good king. In other words, he loved her. Davin loved her so much.

“I want to do this. I want you. More than I want to be king. More than anything else in this life. In my mind, in my heart, you come first.” A small smile formed on his lips. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

“I think I’ve loved you from the moment you curled up next to me in bed at the Morreck Inn. You were just a dream girl then, but now you’re what my dreams are made of.”

“I want to marry you, Emree Dutson, for all the right reasons. Images of you consume my everyday life. You are my future, every special moment I don’t want to forget, and all my dreams coming true. You’re not just a random girl at the Morreck Inn, the Promenade Director, or a working-class woman in gray. You’re my everything, and I don’t want to live another day without you.” He held the ring out in front of her. “Please say that you’ll marry me and be my forever.”

“You better watch yourself,” she warned. “I’m trained in chair weaponry.” “Oh, I know. There’s no way I could ever forget that.”